Strengthening Women-Led CSOs to Catalyze Women's Empowerment and Peace Building in Ethiopia

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play a key role in promoting women’s equal and meaningful participation in peace processes and peacebuilding. A Context Assessment on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Situation in Ethiopia undertaken by UN Women, highlights that increased number of CSOs working on the WPS field is an opportunity for women’s rights to be further improved and realized. Hence, by strengthening CSOs working in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, UN Women aims to support the promotion and implementation of the WPS agenda and the effective participation of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and peace building to create a cohesive, just, inclusive, and democratic society.

To realize this aim, UN Women Ethiopia has awarded grants to CSOs to support their work related to the WPS Agenda.  Among these CSOs is New Millennium Women Empowerment Organization (NMWEO), a non-governmental humanitarian organization dedicated to empowering women, girls, and youth across five regions of Ethiopia namely Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Addis Ababa through various programs focused on capacity building, advocacy, leadership development, and humanitarian interventions.

With support of UN Women, NMWEO is working on furthering the WPS agenda and foster the effective participation of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding to create a cohesive, just, inclusive, and democratic society.

Ms. Tigist Alebachew, Founder and Executive Director of NMWEO, highlights the project's success in developing the organization's Resource Mobilization and Fundraising Strategies saying "With UN Women’s support, we've developed a comprehensive strategy document that has revolutionized our approach to resource mobilization, fundraising, and communicate best practices to stakeholders,". "This strategic framework has enabled us to advocate more effectively against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), train health workers on how to work hand in hand in providing psycho-social support to survivors of GBV, economically empower survivors, and build sustainable relationships and partnerships with donors and partners ," she said. 

Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA) is another CSO grantee by UN Women. As a women led CSO, ELiDA works for the economic, social, and political empowerment of women, girls, and youth, alongside advocating for girls’ education, women's economic empowerment, and engaging in peacebuilding and conflict management across Addis Ababa, Amhara, and Afar regions.

As part of the project, ELiDA’s staff, board members and partners were provided with a series of training and capacity building on enhancing institutional systems and processes, programmatic capacities, organizational system thinking and financial management system. 

Ms. Zinet Yimer, Co-founder and Executive Directress of ELiDA, on the impact of the support says “The comprehensive training covering; identifying audience, advocacy, messaging and brand management has been instrumental in elevating our visibility to partners and donors,” Ms. Zinet further explained. “Not only it has expanded our network, but also attracted collaborations with notable organizations such as African Women Development Fund, The Malala Foundation, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and Care Ethiopia and Care France, following the practical application of our training." 

UN Women Ethiopia implemented the "Support the Organizational Development of Civil Society Organizations Working in the Area of Peace Building, Conflict Resolution, and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda" project funded by Irish Aid providing support via development or strengthening the institutional capacity of CSOs working to promote the women, peace, and security agenda.